Compact atomizer

Abstract

The present invention comprises a compact atomizer that substantially encapsulates a standard inhalant canister and allows for in-line dispensing through a mouthpiece formed in an actuating cover. The compact atomizer comprises an actuating cover and housing that cooperate to secure the canister. By compressing the actuating cover and housing together, a nozzle of the canister is depressed to release a portion of substance within the canister. Compression is enabled by an actuation surface formed in the actuating cover. Substance is released in-line with the canister through a mouthpiece at the end of the actuating cover. The result is a small, compact, yet attractive atomizer that can be carried in a pocket or the like while keeping the canister free of debris.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compact atomizer comprising:
 a canister containing a substance to be inhaled, the canister comprising a top end, a bottom end, an elongated body extending between the top end and the bottom end along a central axis, and a nozzle at the top end through which the substance may be released in line with the central axis;   a housing configured to receive and surround at least the bottom end of the canister; and   an actuating cover configured to fit over the top end of the canister and nozzle and extend down around at least a portion of the elongated body, the actuating cover comprising a mouthpiece and an expansion chamber positioned along the central axis of the canister and configured to receive the substance when released through the nozzle.   
     
     
         2 . The compact atomizer of  claim 1 , wherein pressing the actuating cover toward the housing causes a controlled release of the substance through the nozzle in a direction along the central axis. 
     
     
         3 . The compact atomizer of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating cover is configured to travel between an unactuated position where it is more distal from the bottom end of the canister, to an actuated position where it is more proximate to the bottom end of the canister. 
     
     
         4 . The compact atomizer of  claim 3 , wherein the mouthpiece comprises an outlet along the central axis through which substance is released in a direction opposite travel of the actuating cover as the actuating cover is moved to the actuated position. 
     
     
         5 . The compact atomizer of  claim 4 , wherein the actuating cover further comprises a lateral extension along at least one side that extends laterally away from the mouthpiece to provide an actuation surface for use in moving the actuating cover into the actuated position. 
     
     
         6 . The compact atomizer of  claim 1 , wherein the housing and the actuating cover cooperate to substantially encapsulate the canister. 
     
     
         7 . The compact atomizer of  claim 6 , wherein the actuating cover is configured to be partially inserted into a top end of the housing and has at least one depressible tab, the tab having a slot that receives a detent formed on an inner surface of the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The compact atomizer of  claim 7 , wherein the actuating cover may be removed from the housing by depressing the depressible tab so as to disengage it from the detent, thereby allowing the canister to be replaced. 
     
     
         9 . The compact atomizer of  claim 2 , wherein the actuating cover further comprises a receptacle for a distal end of the nozzle, the housing having an upper shelf that seats against a top orifice of the nozzle such that, when the actuating cover is moved to the actuated position, the nozzle is pressed into the canister, thereby releasing substance through the nozzle into the expansion chamber in the same direction as the central axis of the canister. 
     
     
         10 . The compact atomizer of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating cover further comprises at least one vent that provides a channel for the passage of outside air through the actuating cover, and wherein said channel does not pass through the expansion chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The compact atomizer of  claim 10 , wherein the channel enters the actuating cover below the canister nozzle and exits through the mouthpiece. 
     
     
         12 . A system for controlling the release of a substance to be inhaled from within a pressurized canister that contains the substance, the system comprising:
 a housing configured to receive and surround at least a bottom end of the canister; and   an actuating cover configured to fit over a top end of the canister; the actuating cover comprising:
 a mouthpiece; and 
 an expansion chamber positioned between the mouthpiece and the top end of the canister along the central axis of the canister, the expansion chamber configured to receive the substance when released from a nozzle of the canister. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the actuating cover extends down into the housing and cooperates with the housing to substantially encapsulate the canister. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the actuating cover further comprises at least one depressible tab, the tab having a slot that receives a detent formed on the inner surface of the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the detent slides between a top end of the slot when the actuating cover is in an unactuated position and a bottom end of the slot when the actuating cover is in an actuated position. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the actuating cover is configured to travel between an unactuated position where it is more distal from a bottom end of the housing, to an actuated position where it is more proximate to a bottom end of the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein placing the actuating cover in the actuated position causes substance to release into the expansion chamber along the central axis of the canister. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the actuating cover further comprises a lateral extension along at least one side that extends laterally away from the central axis of the canister, thereby providing an actuation surface for use in moving the actuating cover into the actuated position. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the actuating cover further comprises a mouthpiece, the mouthpiece comprising a conical outlet that reduces in diameter along the central axis of the canister from an upper rim of the actuating cover to an outlet of the expansion chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the mouthpiece further comprises at least one vent that allows for the intake of ambient air that does not pass through the expansion chamber. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the actuating cover further comprises a housing for a distal end of the nozzle, the housing having an upper shelf that seats against a top orifice of the nozzle such that, when the actuating cover is moved to the actuated position, the nozzle is compressed into the canister, thereby releasing substance through the nozzle into the expansion chamber.